(in my defence, how could I not after this message)
introducing Aelys Targaryen in Sin Begets Sin
Aelys Targaryen is Aegon's younger twin brother, identical save for the colour of their hair (and yet, Viserys still calls him by the wrong name)
Although he is the second son, everyone (including Aegon) believes that he is better suited to the throne, and Aegon keeps trying to persuade everyone that Aelys was born first so that he will be the ruler instead, but it doesn't work
Still, Aelys is Aegon's most loyal servant, fiercest defender, and most trusted advisor, named Hand of the King as soon as Aegon takes the throne. He is not quite the schemer that Otto is, although he's been studying him ever since Otto returned as Viserys' hand, but he is the only person in the world that Aegon trusts to care for his opinion as king.
Aelys is competent with a sword and a strong dragonrider, and though he knows that he is not the warrior that Aemond is becoming, he can handle himself in a fight and will not hesitate to throw himself in danger's path to protect his loved ones.
He is gay, although he has every intention of eventually taking a wife that benefits Aegon's alliances, and while his relationship with Aegon is far too complex for either of them to label, they are twin flames and soulmates in every sense of the words fellas is it clone sex if you have different hair colours
Aelys does not consider himself a Hightower, not really. He is a dragon through and through (though really like, he also doesn't see Viserys as a father), and his loyalty and protection only extends to his three siblings and their children. He does his best to protect Aegon from many cruel realities of the world, taking on additional suffering to spare Aegon and, often, Aemond. He pushes Aegon to be a better version of himself but his love is never conditional, and at the final dinner Daemon watches him with his siblings and compares him to a dragon guarding his horde.
